From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 12: Seeking to put an end to people's plight of running from pillar to post, the State Government has launched a novel programme to take the government to the people's doorstep, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday.

In his address after launching the 'Revenue Documents at Your Doorstep' programme organised by the Revenue Department at Gungirlahalli in Chikkaballapur district, he said it was a pity that people were made to run from pillar to post to get basic documents like caste certificate and RTC.

Revenue Minister R Ashok has formulated this novel programme to end the plight of the poor, Bommai said.

Farmers of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts are hard working. The district is famous for its Silk, Milk, Fruits and Vegetables. It is heartening that the district is implementing this novel programme of delivering Revenue documents at the doorsteps of the people, Bommai said.

Self-aggrandisement by Congress

A government can earn the trust of the people it reaches out to the people in time of need and takes its services to the doors of the people, he said attacking the Congress leaders for their lip sympathy for the welfare of the poor, Dalits and the backward communities for the last 75 years since Independence.

“They used the poor as a vote bank. They indulged in self-aggrandisement in the name of the poor. If they had walked the talk we would not have faced this situation of coming up with this programme of delivering Revenue documents at your doorstep," Bommai said.

The Chief Minister said: "The most significant work done by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that he has created an awareness among the people about their rights. Modi is the only Prime Minister who set up all the systems to educate the people about their rights and get them. Earlier too governments promised to eradicate poverty.’’

"They had the slogan Garibi Hatao. But why did not make it a reality? They used power only for politicking. Their objective was power centric. But we will deliver our services to the doors of the common man and get their blessings to serve them. The Revenue department is delivering various documents to 5 crore people at their door steps. Why the previous governments did not do it?" Bommai asked.

Common Man's government

Patting his government, he said: "This is a common man's government. The Raitha Shakthi programme announced in the recent budget offers Rs 1050 for farmers with land holdings up to 5 acres as aid to purchase diesel and hire farm equipment.

A grant of Rs 600 crore has been provided for the programme in the budget. Another Rs 300 crore has been provided to reintroduce the Yashasvini programme. Interest-free loans would be provided for 33 lakh farmers. Government is helping the farmers in branding their produce and exporting them. Subsidy for horticulture crops has been extended, Bommai said.

"Ensuring fair prices for farmers' toil and produce is our resolve. I have proved my commitment in this regard by announcing the Vidya Nidhi scholarship scheme for farmers' children within 3 hours of taking the oath as the Chief Minister. Pension has been increased for 50 lakh families,’’ he said.

“Ours is a government with concern for the poor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is paying Rs 6300 per hectare for farmers engaged in dry land farming. We have doubled the compensation for crop loss during the recent floods. I have allocated Rs.25000 cr for Irrigation and Rs.2800 cr for Horticulture. The crop loss compensation has been transferred to farmers' accounts within one month," Bommai said.

Modern cocoon market in Sidlaghatta

Sidlaghatta would be included along with Kalaburagi and Haveri in the project to build modern cocoon markets at a cost of Rs 30 crore, the Chief Minister said.

Rs.10000 incentive would be paid to increase the production of Bivoltine cocoons. A grant for the Yettinahole project has been raised to Rs.3000 crore in the budget to bring water to Chikkaballapur district.

The parched lands of the region would be draped in green by bringing water from the Yettinahole project, Bommai assured and said that the land mafia which is harassing the people would be crushed mercilessly.

Reiterating his government's commitment for dairy farming to increase farmers' income, Bommai said a special programme for dairy farmers has been formulated. An exclusive 'Ksheera Samridhi Bank' for dairy farmers would be established.

"I have allocated Rs.100 crore for the purpose," he said.

Kanaka Bhavan in Chikkaballapur

The District administration has handed over 20 guntas of land for construction of Kanaka Bhavan in Chikkaballapur. The State government would provide all necessary help for the purpose and I myself will come to inaugurate it, the Chief Minister said.

Speaking at a programme to celebrate the 534th birth anniversary of saint Kanakadasa in Chikkaballapur, Bommai said, "Kanakadasa's thought and philosophy is in our hearts. I have an inseparable bonding with Kanakadasa as his birth place Bada village is in my Shiggaon constituency. Kanakadasa was a king who later transformed into a Dasa after infighting among his own kin."

Kanakadasa spread the ideals of equality 600 years ago. Kanakadasa and Purandaradasa are considered the greatest among the Dasa philosophers. Their life and literary works are a beacon for humanity. The palace and fort of Kanakadasa at Bada has been rebuilt. His literary works have been showcased there. A 4D amphitheater too has been constructed, Bommai said and invited the people from this part of the state to visit these places, the Chief Minister said.

Revenue Minister R Ashok, Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, Urban Development Minister MTB Nagaraj and others were present.

The Economic Times Start-Up Awards

In Bengaluru, the Chief Minister participated in The Economic Times Start-Up Awards 2021 programme.

Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnav and Rajeev Chandrashekar as well as Health Minister Dr Sudakar and Bengaluru South MP Tejaswi Surya were present.